Fruits are generally considered excellent for your health at any time, and they are especially good when you are pregnant. Guavas are especially beneficial for your health under normal circumstances. However, things change when you are pregnant, and you are probably hearing a lot of encouragements and cautionary tales about eating guavas in this condition. In this article, let us see how eating guavas can impact our pregnancies.
Yes, of course
The good news is, guava is a great source of nutrition, containing ample amount of minerals and vitamins that would aid in the healthy development of your baby, and also in maintaining your health. It is also high in water and calories, and will thus help you battle hunger pangs without gaining too much weight. They are also great in regulating bowel movements. In fact, we could go on and on regarding the health benefits of guavas, but how specifically do they affect the pregnant woman and her child?
Full of nutrients
To begin with, guavas are full of a variety of minerals and vitamins. They contain ample amounts of vitamins C, B2, E, and A. Apart from this, they are also a very rich source of a variety of minerals such as copper, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and manganese. All of these elements are important in the growth of the baby and the heath of the expecting mother.
Boosts digestion
The high amount of fiber and water in a guava alone should propel the expecting woman to including them in her daily diet. Every pregnant woman knows of her struggles on the toilet bowl each day, plagued as she is with constipation and the occasional diarrhea. The water and fiber content in guavas helps in boosting the metabolism, softening the stool and making bowel movements much easier.
Keeps blood sugar normal
Guavas also help in regulating the blood sugar to a large extent. This is crucial to reducing the chances of gestational diabetes, which is a relatively rare but extremely dangerous illness. It has all the symptoms of diabetes, but affects the woman only during her pregnancy, and all symptoms disappear once the child has been delivered. Although rare, it is highly dangerous for both the mother and the baby; it can lead to preterm births resulting in miscarriages, natural abortions, still births, and irreversible developmental disorders in the baby.
Contains folates
Guavas are very rich in absorbic acid. It contains a lot of micro nutrients such as folic acid and vitamin B9. Both these elements are very good for the developing baby, which ensures that the neurological, cardiovascular, ad circulatory system of the baby develops smoothly and without any glitches. Adequate consumption of folic acid also ensures that the baby does not grow up with any development disorders in the neural tube or the spine.
Also read: Can I eat kiwi during pregnancy?
So, in a nutshell, guavas are extremely beneficial for you during your pregnancy. There is nothing wrong with, and is in fact highly recommended that you include a couple of guavas in your daily diet. Have them raw or mixed with your morning oatmeal, or as a fruit salad. They are very filling, and will effectively keep your hunger pangs at bay.